International Congress Series 1239 (2003) 809 – 813

The persistence of DNA under fingernails

following submersion in water
S.A. Harbison, S.F. Petricevic, S.K. Vintiner *
Institute of Environmental Science and Research Ltd., Mt. Albert Science Centre,
Private Bag 92 021, Auckland, New Zealand

Abstract

In this paper, we discuss the DNA results obtained from the analysis of cellular material located
beneath the fingernails of two women in separate cases of homicide. In both cases, the deceased
females had been submerged in water, the first in bath water and the second in seawater, for 2 and 3
h, respectively. Mixed DNA profiles were obtained in each case indicating the presence of foreign
DNA in these samples. These results indicate the valuable forensic evidence that can be obtained
from samples that may be considered unlikely to provide DNA results and the high priority that
should be placed on the routine DNA analysis of material from deceased’s fingernails, regardless of
the scenes that they are found in, including submersion in water.
D 2003 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

Keywords: STR profiling; Fingernails; Submersion

1. Introduction

In this paper, we discuss the DNA results obtained from the analysis of cellular material
located beneath the fingernails of two women in separate cases of homicide. In these cases,
the deceased females had been submerged in water, the first in bath water and the second
in seawater, for 2 and 3 h, respectively.

2. Case reports

In the first case, a 33-year-old female was located, fully clothed, submerged in the bath
at her home. She had died within the previous 2 h from a number of blows to her head. The

*
Corresponding author. Tel.: +64-9-8153942; fax: +64-9-8496046.
E-mail address: sue.vintiner@esr.cri.nz (S.K. Vintiner).

0531-5131/03 D 2003 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

PII: S 0 5 3 1 - 5 1 3 1 ( 0 2 ) 0 0 5 8 6 - 1
810 S.A. Harbison et al. / International Congress Series 1239 (2003) 809–813

person who located the deceased had emptied the bath of its water prior to police arrival.
The presence of bloodstaining in several rooms of the house, together with disturbed
furniture, indicated that there had been a struggle between the victim and the offender. All
the bloodstains analysed from the scene were found to be attributable to the deceased. The
fingernails of the deceased were clipped at the postmortem examination and were supplied
as left and right hand samples; the fingernails from each hand grouped together as one
sample. Reference blood samples from the deceased and her family members were also
provided for comparison. As no firm suspect had been identified by other means, analysis
was sought to determine whether or not foreign DNA could be detected under the
deceased’s fingernails.
In the second case, a 29-year-old female suicide victim and homicide suspect was
located floating in Auckland Harbour. Approximately 3 h earlier, she had been seen falling
into the water from a motorway overbridge whilst holding her 11-month-old baby. The
deceased had been observed in an altercation with a male colleague about 1 h prior to
falling from the bridge. During this altercation, the victim allegedly scratched the male’s
face. The fingernails of the deceased were clipped at the autopsy and supplied as left and
right hand samples. Reference blood samples from the deceased and the male colleague
were also supplied for comparison. Analysis was sought to determine whether or not male
DNA could be detected under her fingernails as corroborative evidence and to assist in
determining whether or not charges should be laid.

3. Materials and methods

Loose material adhering to the fingernail clippings was removed by soaking the nail
clippings in 1 ml of sterile distilled water for approximately 30 min. In both cases, the nail
clippings were separately submitted as sets of left- and right-hand samples and were
extracted as such. The analysis of the reference bloodstains was carried out separately to
the analysis of the crime samples.
The loose material adhering to the fingernails was collected by centrifugation of the
soakings and DNA was recovered from the cellular material by extraction with 5% chelex
[1], 20 Al of proteinase K (10 mg/ml) was added to the 5% chelex prior to incubation at
either 55 jC for 20 min or 37 jC overnight. The samples were then boiled for 8 min.
The amount of DNA recovered from the samples was estimated using the ACESk
2.0 + Human DNA Quantitation system supplied by Life Technologies. Between 0.6 and 1
ng of extracted DNA was amplified by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR).
In both cases, the DNA was firstly analysed using the Geneprintk STR CTT short
tandem repeat system supplied by Promega. Amplification was carried out in a total
volume of 25 Al using a 480 DNA Thermal Cycler (Perkin Elmer), according to the
Promega Manual [2]. CTT amplified products were visualized by electrophoresis on 4%
polyacrylamide gels followed by silver staining [3].
For case 1, further DNA analysis was carried out using the SGM (Second Generation
Multiplex) STR system supplied by the Forensic Science Service [4,5]. For case 2,
additional DNA analysis was carried out using the AMPFlSTRR SGMk Plus (Second
Generation Multiplex Plus) STR system supplied by Applied Biosystems [6]. Amplifica-
 S.A. Harbison et al. / International Congress Series 1239 (2003) 809–813 811

tion for both of these systems was carried out in a total volume of 50 Al using a 9700 DNA
Thermal Cycler (Perkin Elmer). SGM and SGM Plus amplified products were detected by
electrophoresis on an Applied Biosystems 377 Genescanner and analysis using Genescan
and Genotyper analysis software [7].

4. Results and discussion

4.1. Case 1

The CTT DNA profile obtained from the left-hand fingernails of the deceased was a
mixed DNA profile, as indicated by the presence of extra bands at each of the loci. Part of
the DNA profile was consistent with that of the female deceased and the remaining part
had likely originated from one male. This male was not the deceased’s son or husband,
suggesting that this DNA had originated from the offender. These results indicated that this
sample was suitable for further analysis using additional STR loci of the SGM system,
which was in use in the laboratory at that time.
Analysis of the additional loci of the SGM system confirmed the presence of a mixture
of DNA from two individuals. The DNA contributions were in unequal proportions with
the female deceased being the minor DNA contributor and an unknown male was the
major DNA contributor (Fig. 1).
The male component of the DNA profile was successfully resolved and submitted for
comparison to the New Zealand National DNA database [8]. This database contains DNA
profiles from individuals who have either been convicted of an indictable offence or who
have voluntarily supplied a blood sample. A ‘hit’ was obtained to a male individual on the
National DNA database and a confirmatory blood sample, as required under the New

Fig. 1. SGM results for the left hand fingernail clippings from the deceased in Case 1.
812 S.A. Harbison et al. / International Congress Series 1239 (2003) 809–813

Fig. 2. SGM Plus results for the fingernail clippings from the deceased in Case 2.

Zealand Criminal Investigations (Blood Samples) Act 1995, was obtained from this
individual.
Statistical assessment of the mixed DNA profile [9] resulted in a likelihood ratio of 100
million. Prior to the DNA evidence the individual had been regarded as one of a number of
suspects for this crime. Following a High Court Trial, the accused was convicted of
murder and sentenced to life imprisonment.

4.2. Case 2

The CTT DNA profile obtained from the left-hand fingernails of the deceased was also
a mixed DNA profile as indicated by the presence of extra bands at each of the STR loci.
The Amelogenin locus also indicated that male DNA was present in this sample.
Additional DNA analysis using the SGM Plus system confirmed the presence of two
sources of DNA, a male and a female (Fig. 2). The major component of the DNA profile
originated from a male and corresponded with that of the deceased’s male colleague. The
minor DNA profile corresponded with that of the deceased. The DNA evidence
corroborated the accounts of the incident as given by the male colleague and other
witnesses. Consequently, no charges were laid and the case was heard in the Coroner’s
Court.

5. Discussion

These two cases illustrate the sensitivity of current DNA technology and the value of
undertaking DNA analysis of material beneath fingernails, regardless of individuals’ hands
being submerged in water. These findings further support the findings of Lederer et al.
 S.A. Harbison et al. / International Congress Series 1239 (2003) 809–813 813

[10], who obtained a victim’s DNA profile from under a suspect’s fingernails, despite
multiple washings and a 2-day time delay prior to sampling.
It has been suggested that fingernail debris has minimal evidential value and should not
be routinely submitted for DNA analysis in forensic casework [11,12]. The results of DNA
analysis of the fingernail debris in these two cases indicate the value of routinely collecting
and analysing fingernail debris for those cases where an individual has likely been
scratched.
Given that in cases of homicide the actions of the deceased during the incident are
usually not fully known we recommend the mandatory collection of fingernails from all
deceased, regardless of the scenes that they are found in, including submersion in water.

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